Vanellus miles

(Masked Lapwing, Plover)

FAMILY

Charadriidae

Species

Vanellus miles

Common name(s)

Masked Lapwing, Plover

Main colour

Brown and white

Distinctive feature

Prominent yellow wattles, size 30-37 cm

Campus

Cairns, Townsville

Description

This bird, with its distinctive yellow wattles, is common in moist grassland areas and around mudflats. It is noisy and aggressive and in some areas is nomadic. There is a black cap on the head, wings are brown with black visible when in flight. Neck and underparts are white, legs and feet reddish, eyes yellow with black iris, bill yellow.

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